Synopsis

Plot

The episode starts with Principal Brown asking Gumball and Darwin why they are not wearing clothes. They explain to him that Richard damaged their clothes and they had to improvise by painting their bodies. While Principal Brown is reprimanding them for what they have done, Gumball starts looking at Principal Brown's diploma on the wall which attributes him the title of Principal of Elmore Junior High. By analyzing it cautiously, Gumball finds out it is fake, meaning that Principal Brown is not a legitimized school principal. Gumball and Darwin, however, promise him that they will not denounce him. Nervous about the shameful truth which Gumball and Darwin have just discovered, Principal Brown misinterprets their message and assumes they are trying to manipulate him, by using their recent discovery as "blackmail." They decide to leave, feeling that he did not understand the message they were trying to send. Before leaving the office, Principal Brown takes them inside again, where he suggests providing them special treatment if they do not denounce him. Gumball refuses his offer, and they leave again.

Later while eating lunch, Gumball and Darwin see Principal Brown has become a stereotyped "cool boy" to gain their trust. To calm Principal Brown, Gumball and Darwin decide to organize a camping trip (inside their house) and invite him. He does not integrate as easily as they assumed and he jumps out the window, falling on a dumpster.

The next day, Gumball and Darwin find a note on Gumball’s locker from Principal Brown, pleading them to not tell, with twenty dollars visible in the slot to his locker. Gumball pulls the note, finding that multiple twenty dollar bills are attached. After Gumball and Darwin clarify that they would not take the money, Principal Brown interjects their conversation and tries to manipulate them by humiliating them using an embarrassing photo. Gumball and Darwin point out that, although the picture he wishes to use is humiliating, they have already felt shame so many times in their life that they are unable to feel it now. Principal Brown sadly leaves.

Later, Principal Brown tells Gumball and Darwin to come to his office again. There, he explains that he has been acting crazy. He also tells the boys that he has lost his glasses and asks for their help to find them. He tells them to inspect his safe to check if they are inside it. Gumball manages to identify his plan by realizing Principal Brown is trying to trap them inside the safe so they will not tell anybody the truth. Gumball then emphasizes that if Principal Brown gets obsessed about that, school will start collapsing. However, Principal Brown, who is neurotic, does not understand his simple message and thus he assumes Gumball is trying to manipulate him again. On an impulse, he decides to blow up the entire school.

Gumball and Darwin realize everybody is in danger, and they decide they must stop Principal Brown. He warns everybody that the school will blow up. The students that hear his message run away while he reaches the school boiler and programs it so it can provoke an explosion that will destroy the entire school. Gumball, Darwin, Miss Simian, Mr. Small, Rocky and Coach show up. Gumball begs him not to blow up the school and asks him to reveal the truth. Principal Brown then admits he is not a real principal, and in order to reassure him, the other adults decide to confess something about themselves as well.

Principal Brown then decides to stop his plan, but the school blows up anyway. He reveals it was his failure in math that kept him from getting his diploma, ending the episode.

Principal's Office 1

Richard: Okay, Nicole said I needed to use a quarter cup of washing liquid and a half cup of softener. And set it for exactly one hour and two minutes. Wait three seconds... and go!

Gumball: Did you just put the clothes in the dishwasher?

Richard: Yeah.

Darwin: Then what did you do with the dishes?

[Scene changes to the washing machine, "washing" the dishes]

[End of flashback]

Gumball: Let's just say we like to dress sharp, but not that sharp.

Darwin: We thought no one would notice. What gave it away? Did we mess up the back part?

[Gumball turns around revealing they have not painted their backsides]

Nigel Brown: No, it was the PIXELATED PART! Surely, you must realize you can't walk around in public looking like you feel asleep at an art student's party! Do I really need to add another Watterson amendment to the school's rule book?!

Gumball: But what's the difference? Sure, the clothes are fake, but they're just as good as the real ones.

Nigel Brown: [Inhales deeply] Let me make this clear for you. If you wear fake clothes, you're NAKED, which is bad! If you pay with fake money, you're A CROOK, which is bad! If you eat fake meat, you're A VEGETARIAN! Which I... Guess is not that bad, just a bit boring. I mean, it's good for the animals, I guess, but they always have a smug, superior attitude, and for some reason, the men are always topless and playing bongos in the park. That and the sandals just makes me want to eat raw liver.

[While he talks, Gumball observes the diploma on Principal Brown's wall. He sees it is just painted on the wall and has a banana sticker for a seal of authenticity]

Gumball: What if you have a fake diploma?

Nigel Brown: Well, then you're a-- [Gasps]

Gumball: A principal, Principal Brown?

Nigel Brown: Uh, what gave it away?

Gumball: I don't know. Maybe the fact you painted it directly onto the wall or probably because you used a banana sticker as a seal of authenticity.

Darwin: Wait, so do you have a diploma or not?

Nigel Brown: [Chuckles] Kids, I am a principal, and you need a diploma to be a principal.

Gumball: Is that a yes or a no?

Nigel Brown: It is.

Gumball and Darwin: OH MY GOSH, YOU'RE A FRAUD!

Nigel Brown: All right, you got me, but I have one more trick up my sleeve. [Crying] PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T TELL ANYONE, PLEASE! HAVE SOME PITY ON ME, PLEASE!

Nigel Brown: You're making this tough. [He rips open the front part of his fur, revealing a jacket of sorts full of hall passes]

Gumball: Ugh!

Nigel Brown: What about hall passes?

Gumball: Doesn't that hurt?

Nigel Brown: Yes, every time.

Gumball: I... think we're gonna pass on the passes. Please cover up.

Nigel Brown: I see. [Sticks his fur back on] Ah, then I've got just what you need. Behold the chest of confiscated treasures. [Opens the case] You may pick anything you like. These fireworks are illegal, even in Russia.

Nigel Brown: If money isn't enough to stop you revealing I don't have a diploma...

[Gumball opens the locker by snapping his fingers, and Principal Brown gets out]

Nigel Brown: I've got a little dirt of my own. What if this were to go public? [He shows a picture of Gumball and Darwin in goth clothes]

Gumball: [Sighs] Look Principal Brown, first, that was a phase, and secondly, we've felt ashamed so many times in life that I think we're now incapable of feeling it, as in chemically.

Darwin: The doctor says we've run out of shame-osterone. Let me show you. [Opens up Gumball's head] As you can see, the brain is composed of many sections dedicated to emotion. Here is anger. Here is sadness. This here... We just don't know. And finally, this is the shame gland. As you can see, It's pretty dried out.

Mister Small: Hold on, kids. I need to make a symbolic gesture of protest. HALT IN THE NAME OF LOVE! [Gets run over by Principal Brown]

Nigel Brown: Once this place is gone, my reputation will be safe! Save yourself, Lucy! [Hits the drywall] Ohh! Oh, sorry. I thought that was another drywall. [Hits the drywall again] Ohh! And again. Everyone, evacuate the school!

[Everyone starts screaming. Principal Brown raises the alarm]

Nigel Brown: [Grunting] Now all I have to do is increase the oxygen supply, shut off the carbon dioxide release valve, which should combine with the boiling H2O, kick-start a reaction, which will BLOW UP THE WHOLE SCHOOL!

Gumball: STOP! DON'T DO THIS!

Nigel Brown: SAVE YOURSELVES!

Gumball: YOU MISUNDERSTOOD US! We don't want you to blow up the school!

Nigel Brown: But it's the only solution!

Lucy Simian: Nigel, what is going on?!

Nigel Brown: Wait, it should've blown by now. Oh, yeah, it's because of chemistry that I failed my diploma.

Gumball: Tell them the truth, Principal Brown.

Nigel Brown: [Sighs] I don't have a diploma. Your principal is nothing more than a... a fraud! I should go. But promise me you'll find a new principal to look after this place.

Darwin: But you are our principal.

Gumball: Or at least you were until you started worrying about that stupid diploma.

Lucy Simian: We all lie sometimes. I lied about my age to get this job. I'm not quite the spring chicken you think I am.

Mister Small: Hey, man, I'm not even a U.S citizen!

Coach: And I'm not a woman! [Everyone looks at her] Who can say she's never lied on her résumé either.

Gumball: Haven't you been doing this job for twenty years? Surely, no one else is more qualified to be our principal than our principal.

Nigel Brown: You know what? You're right. I'm gonna get this place back on track starting right here, right now!

[The whole school explodes, everyone coughs]

Nigel Brown: Oh, yes, sorry, it was mathematics that I failed. [Faints]